Thanks once once more to the exploits of Connor McDavid in particular, the Edmonton Oilers got the better of the Anaheim Ducks in a 6-2 victory on Wednesday night. Edmonton outshot the Ducks 53-23.
With a goal and an assist, McDavid became the first NHL player to reach the 35-goal mark this season and is just one point off the 80-point mark.
McDavid is only the fourth player in Oilers history to reach 35 goals in a season in 43 games or fewer. He therefore joins Wayne Gretzky, who achieved this feat on five occasions, Jari Kurri who did it twice and Glenn Anderson who did it once in 1985-1986.
Forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins capitalized on the win to reach 50 points this season, scoring one goal and one assist. Klim Kostin had a good game with two goals.
Already at 77 points before the start of the evening, McDavid quickly showed that he did not intend to slow down. After just over three minutes of play, he became an accomplice to Dylan Holloway’s third goal of the season thanks to a masterful pass without looking.
McDavid’s excellence visibly inspired his teammates as just 74 seconds later, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins doubled Edmonton’s lead with a shot from the circles. He took advantage of that net to reach 20 goals for the fifth time in his career.
Despite their poor 30th position in the NHL standings, the Ducks provided the answer halfway through the period. Sam Carrick completed a nice pass from Quebec’s Maxime Comtois in front of the net to reduce the gap to one goal. Comtois finished the game with two assists.
McDavid, however, showed he was ruthless less than two minutes later. On a magnificent individual sequence, McDavid executed a spinorama in front of a helpless Trevor Zegras, before scoring his 35th goal of the season, thanks to a perfect backhand shot.
Then late in the period, Kostin took advantage of a Ducks turnover to fire a low shot that beat John Gibson, making it 4-1.
Kostin then returned to the charge midway through the middle period. He put the finishing touches on a fine one-man play from Mattias Janmark to increase the Oilers’ priority to four goals.
Before the end of the period, Leon Draisaitl wanted to add his personal touch with an impressive goal. Placed in front of the net, Draisaitl redirected a pass from Evan Bouchard between his legs for his 23rd goal of the campaign.
Simon Benoit completed the scoring in the third period in a losing cause.
A 26-year-old Laval resident, Vincent Desharnais made his NHL debut with the Oilers. Edmonton drafted him in the seventh round seven years ago.
Gibson made 31 saves on 37 shots in the Ducks’ camp, before being replaced by Anthony Stolarz, who was perfect once morest the 16 shots received. At the other end of the rink, Jack Campbell saved 21 pucks in the victory.
The Oilers, who snapped a two-game losing streak, meet the San Jose Sharks on Friday night. The Ducks will face the Devils.
Byfield contributes to the successes
Quinton Byfield scored his first goal of the season and the Los Angeles Kings defeated the San Jose Sharks 4-3.
Byfield also picked up an assist, giving him at least two points in a game for the third time in his career.
In addition to Byfield, the Kings scorers in the win were Adrian Kempe, Gabriel Vilardi and Drew Doughty. Kempe opened the scoring with the only goal of the first period, as Vilardi and Doughty scored 53 seconds apart to give the Kings a two-goal lead in the third period.
Tomas Hertl made it 4-3 with his 14th goal of the season late in the game, but the Sharks were unable to complete the comeback. Nick Bonino and Timo Meier also hit the mark in the Sharks camp.
In front of the Kings cage, Pheonix Copley did well with a performance of 27 saves. At the other end of the ice, James Reimer conceded four goals on 37 shots.
The Kings have won their last three games. They will face the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night.
